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Dubnyk's Stadium Series Mask Tells His Story

by
Evan Sporer
/ Minnesota Wild

A mask, and its design, can represent a goalie's identity. Devan Dubnyk's newly painted helmet that he'll wear on Sunday for the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series tells the story of a hockey player, a father, a son, and a newly minted Minnesotan.

Beginning on the left temple sits the giraffe, a constant character on Dubnyk's mask, his childhood nickname. It wears a Viking helmet, a call-out to the Minnesota connection Dubnyk has forged in his 13 months in the State of Hockey.

Continuing across the front, a treasure map-like white scripture sits neatly on the chin, garnished with a red wild logo.

Along the jaw line, in the path of a chinstrap beard sits a wood fence, framing Dubnyk's face and giving the mask its support.

On the right temple, Dubnyk's two children, Nate and Parker, are painted. Each is wearing a Viking helmet, golden braids spilling out of the helmet's sides. Each child also has his own goalie paddle, just like dad, hardwood sticks that look to-scale, almost the size of each son's head.

"Him and Parker are both on the side, so that was kind of the most important thing," Dubnyk said, standing in the Wild's locker room, holding Nate in his arms. "I wanted a little bit of an outdoor theme, and I tied in some stuff to do with the Vikings as well."

All of this sits atop a forest green backdrop, in the color-scheme of the Stadium Series logo. Pine trees spike upwards like they're being propped up with hair gel. Centered on the top is the Minnesota Wild 'M,' white and almost like a pirate's crossbones.

On the backplate, Nate's initials sit above his birth date. Below that is the official Stadium Series logo. To the left, all in pink, 'MOM' is written in cursive alongside the breast cancer ribbon. Dubnyk's mother, Barb, is a breast cancer survivor.

"I wanted to get these guys in there, but also tie in the big 'M' on the forehead, and the fact that this is where the Vikings played, and obviously the Gophers as well," Dubnyk said. "There's a University of Minnesota logo on there, so lots of little details that will show tomorrow."

The entire mask is done in matte, taking away the traditional shine normally above a goalie's shoulders, replacing it with a more rustic, outdoorsy feel.

Above the brow is inscribed a message, the title of the mask, which ties everything together.